Mission and Objectives

Welcome to the Hepatorenal Fibrocystic Disease Core Center (HRFDCC), an NIH-NIDDK supported research center focused on understanding the causes of Cystic Kidney Disease and other related disorder and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Mission

The mission of the Hepatorenal Fibrocystic Disease Core Center (HRFDCC) is to accelerate the pace of research into the genetic, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms of HRFDs and the subsequent translation of these discoveries into effective treatments. To advance HRFD research, the HRFDCC integrates the expertise of the Core Directors and the Investigator Base with genetic information from HRFD patients, cost effective methodologies, and access to innovative in vitro and in vivo HRFD biological resources. The Center will complement this integrative approach with infrastructure allowing efficient preclinical assessment of lead compounds across multiple HRFD diseases using cell-based and in vivo models. Together, the activities of the Center will promote more rapid advancement of efficacious candidates into clinical trials for human HRFD patients.

Center Aims and Objectives

The HRFDCC impacts research into HRFDs across the world through implementation of a Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) program, a Pilot Voucher Program, Educational and Training programs, and through well-established Core facilities that provide access to cost-effective services and resources. The opportunities and resources provided by the HRFDCC far exceed that available in individual laboratories. This integration of the Center’s activities is accelerating the pace of research into the mechanistic basis of HRFD pathogenesis and the subsequent translation of these new discoveries into effective treatments. The Center is advancing hypothesis-driven research of the Investigator Base through the following specific aims:

Aim 1: Provide exceptional core facilities and services that will drive the development of new technologies, innovative resources, and projects.

Aim 2: Institute meaningful interdisciplinary interactions and collaborations among the Center’s Investigator Base from regional, national, and international institutions.

Aim 3: Provide the intellectual environment and research infrastructure to attract new investigators into the HRFD field through integrated activities of the Center’s Biomedical Research Cores, Pilot and Feasibility Grants, a Pilot Voucher Program, and a Scientific Education and Enrichment Program.

Aim 4: Leverage institutional commitments that propel the HRFDCC into a pre-eminent Center of excellence for HRFD research, training, and education.

Aim 5: Accelerate the pace of preclinical testing of lead compounds in a wide range of cystic kidney diseases through establishment of well-defined in vivo and in vitro models, functional assays, and preclinical screening strategies